News Room

Mark Your Calendar: Critical Deadlines for May and June

Tax season never truly ends, it seems, as there are many more upcoming tax filing, investment planning and education milestones to discuss with your clients over the next six months. Check out our handy checklist below and then test yourself – what are the conversation openers you’ll use and with which clients? It’s your opportunity to shine with every member of the household:

Rising CPP Pensions: A Help or Hindrance to Retirement Savings?

Expanding the Canada Pension Plan has been a priority for the federal government from the start of their mandate. The goal is to shore up retirement income at a time when access to company pension plans is dwindling. To that end, a steep increase to CPP contribution rates looms in 2019. But will this do the trick to close the savings gap? There is debate on the issue.

Post-Tax Season Realities: CRA Outs Offenders

In the CRA’s crackdown on sophisticated or aggressive tax avoidance schemes, convictions are routinely listed on the agency’s website for all to see. But public shaming is the least of the consequences lawbreakers will have to face. Stiff fines and penalties are a much bigger issue.

Just How Tax Efficient Will Your Retirement Be?

A recent Globe and Mail article cites a Royal Bank report in which 46% of Canadians over 55 felt they weren’t saving enough for retirement. Worse still, 31% of Canadians hadn’t started saving for retirement yet. This is an opportunity that tax and financial advisors can help with. Tax refunds coming back now can be a great trigger for the question: how tax efficient will your retirement income be?

Life Purpose

“Be curious. Enjoy the process. Marvel at life and its richness as you go along.” — Dr. Susan Biali, M.D.

Recent Study Shows That Rate Hike Would Hurt Canadian Home-owners

How cash-strapped are your clients, really? Tax and financial advisors need to make that question a priority to really help younger clients before times get tougher for some. The Canadian Press, for example, recently reported about a survey by Manulife in which they found that “nearly three quarters of Canadian homeowners…would have difficulty paying their mortgage if their payments were to increase by more than 10 per cent.”

The Spring DAW Sessions Off to a Great Start on the West Coast

"Best DAW yet!" The spring Distinguished Advisor Workshops (DAW) started this week in Vancouver to great fanfare by our attendees. Here’s what some had to say:
 
 
 
Knowledge Bureau Poll Question

Do you agree that public trustees, guardians and departments supporting Indigenous Services should be able to certify impairments for the Disability Tax Credit?

  • Yes
    13 votes
    17.81%
  • No
    60 votes
    82.19%